Keep seeing mention of watches to track running, certainly seems less clunky than using my phone.
I’d appreciate any recommendations, as I might just be looking to buy myself a well done gift when I graduate 10k!
TIA
Grab a Garmin?: Keep seeing mention of watches... - Bridge to 10K
Grab a Garmin?
Written by
rancher
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58 Replies
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orangeguyGraduate10
I've had a Garmin Forerunner 25 for about 6 months now and wouldn't be without it. Easy to use, tracks time, distance, pace and more. I think this model is the cheapest Garmin at around £80 but it does all I need and without the need to carry my phone.
Some form of Garmin is definitely the way to go as they are primarily running watches and as accurate (IMO) as anything out there. Polar are brilliant too, but bulky and unattractive. I have the Fenix 5s (now superseded by fancy ones with music etc) and it's one of my favourite ever things - bought used on eBay I hasten to add! My daughter has the Forerunner 235 and loves it. The little square Garmin running watches at the cheaper end of the scale seem to be popular and spoken highly of as well, though to my mind it's best to get one of the heart rate models.
I got one of those little square, cheaper ones (Garmin Forerunner 30), and it has a heart rate monitor! Love my Garmin. As above, would highly recommend! x
in reply to Sadie-runs
That was the one I was thinking of Sadie. everyone who has it seems to love it xxx
I love mine too AND it has a turquoise strap!! 😁
That's a good point, the basic Forerunner 25 does not have heart rate monitor, I think you have to buy a separate attachment for that if you want it.
rancher in reply to
Thanks so much for replying FlickM3
cheekychipmunksGraduate10
I had the Garmin Forerunner 235 for Christmas and I’m still amazed at the number of stats it produces if you want it to. I’d highly recommend that model, but there are several to choose from in all price ranges.
My husband got mine in the Black Friday sale on Amazon - well I chose it, popped it in the basket and he pressed pay! I wouldn’t be without it now. 😀
Dexy5Graduate10
It is definitely worth investing in rancher, and just to add to previous comments, hubby and I have forerunner 35 and think it’s great. So go by what you are willing to pay. Definitely shop around once you’ve chosen though.
Deals1Graduate10
Can u link them to Strava and such??
Yes it downloads directly to Strava so you don’t have to start the app as well as the watch. You can also start and pause music once you’ve started it on your phone.
in reply to Deals1
Yes. My runs go straight there from my watch.
benwillGraduate10
Get a garmin 235 there are some amazing deals around at the moment for it (i think garmin are just about to replace it) but it is an amazing watch if you only do running. But it links to strava it will go to Garmin Connect then it will then push it out to Strava.
Another thumbs up for the Garmin Forerunner 30, I've only had it a week but it does everything that I need it to do. I've been impressed with it so far. GPS tracking, heart rate monitor, displays current pace and tells me to move when I've been sat on my bum too long. ⚡
rancher in reply to
Oh a watch that doubles as a Personal trainer? Now you’re talking!!
Beachcomber66Graduate10
I have the 35 which my encouraged me to buy to celebrate C25k graduation. In combination with the Garmin Connect app on my IPhone, it gives me all the data I need. The watch also gives me my current lap time as I run, which is a big plus for me. I can avoid setting off too fast on longer runs, and know when, and how much, to speed up. I might have got to 10k without a running watch, but at best it would have been more difficult. I went for the 35 as it was the cheapest in the range with its own GPS, but it gives me everything I need. There may be other models or makes as good or better, I have no idea; I am more than content with what I have.
Good to know, thanks for that
I'm getting increasingly tempted by a running watch as my next Sparkly New Thing.
I don't need masses of monitoring, but I guess I'd want it to have GPS, bluetoothing into Strava, and - most importantly - music (otherwise I'm going to have to take my phone anyway, so I might as well just use the Strava app).
Is there a good guide or rundown of what's out there? Any thoughts on how much I might have to pay?
The 35 does all that at around £120 when I bought. I don’t know about the 30 but someone will tell you.
in reply to FenderTelecaster
Bruce Springsteen used to play a Telecaster!
FenderTelecaster in reply to
He still does, when he's not doing the acoustic thing.
I assume he's got a vast collection of every guitar under the sun...
CrawlhomeGraduate10
I love my Garmin Forerunner 35. It tracks all my exercise, not just running, has a heart monitor, receives phone notifications and can even change tracks on music on my phone! Once it's linked to your phone you can look at an amazing variety of stats. 😁
Is it ok for cycling too?? Thanks
BaddieThePirateGraduate10
Everyone seems to love their Garmins, but can you make phone calls from them? I'd be taking my phone anyway in case I get lost and need Google Maps, or in case I fall over and need to call for help. Oh, and to take photos with 😊
And play your music.....If you’ve got earphones with a mouthpiece you probably could take calls but I keep my phone in a flip belt so not difficult to get out on the rare occasion I would take a call while running.
I'd be looking at my watch ALL the time if I had one. With Runkeeper I have to wait for a 5 min update and each completed km I also get an update.
Yeah all that tech on your wrist could be distracting!
I took a call the other day when running, only just managed to stay upright and hope my heavy breathing didn’t put them off...could be useful strategy for annoying sales calls I suppose?
Hee hee
Yes Baddie, I’ll definitely still carry my phone with me but it’s such a faff when I’m running!
Let me know what you think to your watch when you get one...
Another vote for the Garmin 235 - has all the bells and whistles you need and middle range in price. The built in heart monitor is a plus. I got mine at a cycle site, Chain Reaction, a bit cheaper than elsewhere. It picks up satellites and downloads to the Garmin site and Strava much quicker than my older Garmin models.
Dannybhoy62560minGraduate
I received a Garmin viagogo from Santa. It's brilliant,tracks your runs,heart rate etc,and as a bonus,I have over 30 hours of music on it. Great piece of tech.
Just for something different, I got a Fitbit Ionic for Christmas. I wanted something with GPS and music and this has both. It also has a heart rate monitor and Strava etc and now I can run without taking my phone.
I've also been looking at the Fossil smart watches which look really good.
I have an ionic too and I love it!
Garmin forerunner 235. I love love love mine. Best running related thing I ever bought. Go on treat yourself.😁😁😁😁
RunsomeGraduate10
Hi rancher. I had a cheaper Chineese one for about 6 months which was good but gps was temperamental. Now have the garmin forerunner 235 which is always spot on and is easy to use. I would definitely recommend. 😀
What device did you try? I've been looking at the Xiaomi Amazfit Bip which seems to be amazing value for money and gets good reviews.
I think it was called a Zeroner health p1 it was only £35 new off eBay and did me well I just had to give it a bit of time to find the gps. It was ok if you run in the same place each time but if you went to a new location it took a while to locate itself. The Zeroner app it linked too was excellent and that also linked to strava
GTypeRGraduate10
I was going to get a Garmin but ended up getting an Apple Watch Series 3 as a gift. It’s brilliant for me and syncs well with Strava. Really like the daily fitness goals and heart rate too.
HGVDanGraduate10
I take my phone for music
Garmin VivoactiveHR watch
Money
Keys
Torch
Hat
Gloves
Neck Tube
And a few other bits on a 5k
When I run further I tend to take a few first aid bits too
So a watch isn’t that bad to carry lol
Also you can have Garmin beacon if you pay for it for a distress call and gps location of where you are if you trail run it’s handy
TedGGraduate10
I use the Forerunner 235 which is a ‘smart watch’
If you want basic I’d recommend the Forerunner 10 as a starting point. It gives you distance, pace and speed which is all you need really.
Cheap as chips on EBay 😊
I got the forerunner 35 as a Xmas present. I chose it as best combination of heart rate, running stats, GPS, Bluetooth, readable face, battery life. And price. The 235 is a bit cleverer, but more expensive and I don't need the extra features. I don't listen to music when I run so I don't need the lovely looking new model. The Garmin website shows all the models. Oh and mine is also blue! 😁
MikeJones68Graduate10
I bought a Garmin Forerunner 35 on a Black Friday deal for £119. I had been looking at the 235, but was too mean to send the £180 price tag at the time. A fellow runner at work since bought one for £130 :(.
Still, the 35 does all I need it to, it even uploads to Strava automatically. So much easier than wearing the armband which used to either keep slipping down my arm or cut off circulation!
I bought the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music last year. Ok, it costs a little bit but I love it because with that I don't need the gps tracker, the chest belt for tracking the heartbeat rate and I wouldn't need to take the mp3-player with me. I switched back to the mp3-player because I found it difficult to handle the player functions of the Forerunner when tracking the run - maybe I'm too stupid or I just should practise it before trying it for another run. I do not use all of the functionality because I don't like to carry much weight with me when I'm running, so I never have my phone with me.
As I do also other sports which I want to track (cycling, fitness, SUP, hiking, ... ) I needed a multisport watch and this one seemed the best solution for me. I had a Polar watch before, but with no gps inside. Almost one year later I say that buying the Forerunner was the best gift I made to myself.
WindozeGraduate10
Garmin Forerunner ftw!
SararararaGraduate10
After lots of erring between an Apple Watch and a Garmin, I plumped for the Forerunner 235. Was persuaded by an amazon warehouse ‘as new’ on Black Fri for under £120!
Loved checking all the stats until the heart monitor started underestimating on runs. Am hoping it’s because I have had the strap too loose...
SaartjieGraduate10
I got a great deal on the Garmin 725XT in the Black Friday sales for £225 incl chest heart rate monitor (but it measures on wrist too so havent used it yet!) Its more than i need as its a triathalon watch but was the best bang for my buck at the time. The GPS seems to be pretty accurate which was my main thing after my Fitbit selling me short on every run. Despite being a triathlon watch it's pretty simple to use. Press one button to start running and it syncs straight to Strava after once you've linked your accounts. I love it 🤩
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